Exciting CGIs have been released showing how Merseyside's new railway station is set to look as the scheme secures a £3.3m investment.
The plans for the facility at Kirkby Headbolt Lane have moved a step closer, and will see around 500 park and ride spaces along with a bus interchange.
The money has come from the Liverpool City Region's combined authority strategic investment fund.
Now it's been approved, it will move to the next stage of Network Rail's design process.
The full scheme includes the extension of the Merseyrail network beyond the existing Kirkby station.
It would also mean that residents in the Northwood and Tower Hill areas of the town would be even closer to services on the Merseyrail network.
Speaking about the scheme, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: "I’m delighted that we’re moving forward with our plans for a new station at Headbolt Lane. It’s a really exciting moment and great news for the people of Kirkby. It shows my continued commitment to invest in transport infrastructure across the whole city region.
“As a local lad, Kirkby is close to my heart so I’m pleased that it will now be better connected to the city region via our new trains which will be some of the most sophisticated in the country. An improved public transport network is central to building back better and supporting our economic recovery.
Most Read
“I remain determined to deliver our ambitious plans for a London-style integrated transport network that the people of the city region deserve. We know that transport may look different post-Coronavirus, but that will not stop us from realising our ambitions for the future.”
The plans will see Merseyrail services run into the new station, as opposed to the current services which run as far as Kirkby.
Northern services from Wigan and Manchester would also operate to and from the new station.
The development also forms part of the plans to build new rail link to Skelmersdale, which would connect to the Merseyrail network via Kirkby.
Merseytravel said it is continuing to work closely with Lancashire County Council and West Lancashire Borough Council to support that scheme.
An outline business case is currently being developed for the scheme, which is expected to be completed by September 2020. It is planned for the new station to be operational by 2023.
Don't miss a thing - sign up for your free North West newsletter - and follow us on LinkedIn
Email newsletters
BusinessLive is your home for business news from around the North West- and you can stay in touch with all the latest news from Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria through our email alerts.
You can sign up to receive daily morning news bulletins from every region we cover and to weekly email bulletins covering key economic sectors from manufacturing to technology and enterprise. And we'll send out breaking news alerts for any stories we think you can't miss.
Visit our email preference centre to sign up to all the latest news from BusinessLive.
For all the latest stories, views, polls and more - and the news as it breaks - .
Don’t miss
The station also forms part of the Liverpool City Region Long Term Rail Strategy, a 30-year plan, which was updated in 2018.
Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “I’m delighted that this project has secured funding.
“It will also significantly improve transport options for our residents as well as improve access to Knowsley Business Park (one of the largest employment areas in Europe) and other key services, particularly in the Northwood and Tower Hill areas in Kirkby.
“I look forward to seeing this project progress.”
Karen Hornby, head of performance and customer relations at Network Rail said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Metro Mayor and our Combined Authority partners on the new station development at Headbolt Lane.
“The new station and reinstatement of two tracks, will ensure Merseyrail and Northern can serve a greater number of passengers in the wider Kirkby area.
“It will mean better connections to Liverpool and Manchester by public transport, bringing greater opportunities for work, study and leisure.”